Water-closet basin and cistern units



United States Patent WATER-CLOSET BASIN AND CISTERN UNITE Arnold Durdy, Yorkshire, England, assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corp., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 847,637 Claims priority, application Great Britain Oct. 31, 1958 17 Claims. ((11. 4-71) This invention relates to water-closet basins and cistern units of the kind in which the cistern is directly attached to, or mounted upon, the water-closet basin and in which the basin has a siphonic discharge passage formed with two traps.

It has previously been proposed in water-closet units of the foregoing kind, to provide an air pipe which extends upwardly -from the space between the traps into a conduit which forms a tubular continuation of the downcomer leg of a siphon within the cistern and through which water is discharged from the cistern into a flushing chamber of the water-closet basin. It has also been proposed to form the tubular continuation of the downcomer leg of the siphon as a venturi nozzle, the throat of the venturi being connected by an air pipe to the space between the two traps of the basin discharge. In the prior proposals, the tubular continuation of the downcomer leg of the siphon is constructed of metal tubular parts which have to be accurately machined to enable them to be fitted together and to be connected to the downcomer leg of the siphon. Moreover, assembly of such parts requires the use of several screwthreaded connections and sealing elements, so that such constructions are relatively expensive to produce not only because of the operations required in production of the parts but also because of the work involved in the assembly thereof and in the fitting together of the basin and cistern of the unit.

An object of the invention is to devise a water-closet basin and cistern unit which is of simplified construction and which can more easily be assembled, thereby to reduce production costs.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a watercloset basin and cistern unit of the kind referred to, wherein a siphon within the cistern has a downcomer leg formed in one piece with a tubular extension or continuation which protrudes through the bottom of the cistern into a chamber of the basin for conveying flushing liquid to said basin, and wherein the siphon is provided with aspirator means including a tube extending transversely of the passage through said downcomer leg, the tube having an opening in its underside and communicating at one end with the space between the two traps in the basin so that, during a flushing action, air is extracted from said space.

The invention further provides a water-closet basin and cistern unit of the kind referred to, wherein a siphon arranged within the cistern has a downcomer leg for conveying flushing liquid to the basin, the downcomer leg being fitted with a transverse tube formed in its underside with an opening and communicating with a space between the two traps in the basin so that, during a flushing action, air is extracted from said space.

The siphon body is conveniently made in one piece with the downcomer leg and its tubular extension or continuation, as by casting, and may be of vitreous china or ceramic construction, the integral continuation or extension of the downcomer leg being such that a fiuidtight connection between it and the contiguous portions of the cistern and basin can readily be formed by sealing means of rubber or other resilient packing material.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, the same will now "ice be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side view of a water-closet basin and cistern unit embodying the invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a part sectional end view taken along the line II-II of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment illustrated comprises a water-closet basin and cistern unit having a cistern indicated generally at 1 and a basin indicated generally at 2, the cistern including a tank 3 formed of vitreous china and mounted directly upon a platform 4 at the rear part of the basin 2 which latter is also formed of vitreous china. The platform 4 constitutes the top wall of an inlet duct 5 for flushing water, which duct extends forwardly and merges into a flushing chamber 6 extending around the bowl 7 of the basin. The basin has a discharge passage 8 which is shaped to form two spaced apart traps 9 and 10 respectively. The flushing chamber 6 has top and bottom walls 11 and 12 which are formed integrally with an upright tubular column 13 which opens at its upper end into the top of the basin forwardly of the inlet duct 5 and which opens at its lower end into the space 14 between the two traps.

Within the cistern there is arranged a siphon discharge device 15 the body of which is formed of vitreous china and is cast in one piece with the downcomer leg 16 of the siphon, the downcomer leg also being formed integrally with a tubular extension or continuation 17, the lower portion of which projects through aligned apertures in the bottom 18 of the cistern and the top wall or platform 4 of the basin, into the inlet duct 5. The tubular extension or continuation 17 is also formed integrally with a flange 19 located within the cistern substantially parallel to the bottom thereof and formed at opposite sides of the tubular extension with holes for the reception of holding-down bolts 20 of brass, the screw-threaded stems of which bolts pass through corresponding holes in the bottom wall 18 of the cistern and receive fibre washers 21 and brass nuts 22 which can be tightened so as firmly to secure the siphon in position. Between the head of each holding-down bolt and the top of the flange there is provided a rubber washer 23 and between the underside of the flange '19 and the internal surface of the bottom 18 of the cistern there is disposed a rubber sealing element 24 through which the bolt extends. The holding-down bolts 21 extend also through holes formed in flange 25 projecting laterally from the two opposite sides of the inlet duct 5 at the rear of the basin, each of the bolts being fitted beneath the lateral flanges with brass washers 26 and wing nuts 27 which can be tightened to secure the cistern to the basin. The portion of the tubular continuation or extension 17 of the downcomer leg depending from the integral holding-down flange 19, is externally of plane cylindrical form and is fitted with an upper rubber sealing ring or element 28 which provides a fluid-tight seal between the holding-down flange and the inner face of the bottom of the cistern. A lower rubber sealing ring or element 29 is fitted over the tubular extension and, when the wing nuts 27 .are tightened to secure the cistern to the basin, this lower ring is compresse between the bottom of the cistern and the adjacent upper wall or platform of the basin to provide a fluid-tight connection between the discharge tube of the siphon and the cistern and basin. The connection is simple in form but nevertheless provides a reliable seal and can readily be effected during assembly of the unit. One or more additional packing elements of rubber may be located between the bottom of the cistern and the supporting platform, so as to maintain the cistern in the required upright position when the holding-down bolts and associated nuts are tightened.

The downcomer leg has an internal bore 30 which seen r52 is of slightly tapered form so as to converge toward and to open into a bulbous part 31, as distinct from the restricted throat of a venturi, the bulbous part 31 being generally spherical in shape and having an internal diameter which is greater than the diameter of the adjacent part of the internal bore of the downcomer leg. The bulbous part merges at its underside into the integral tubular extension or continuation 17, the internal bore 32 of which is of slightly divergent form, this bore being slightly greater in diameter at its lower end than at its upper end. The bulbous part 31 is formed at its front and rear sides with aligned apertures for the reception and support of an aspirator unit comprising a brass tube 33 which extends transversely of the passage through the downcomer leg and its tubular extension or continuation. The tube 33 is secured in position by a brass cap 34 engaged over a portion of the tube projecting from the rear of the bulbous part and a brass elbow union 35 engaged over a portion of the tube projecting from the front of the bulbous part, the latter being formed at its front and rear sides with fiat seating faces engaged by rubber washers 36 pressed into position by the cap and union through the intermediary of brass washers 37. The arrangement provides a simple connection which can readily be assembled to hold the transverse tube 33 in position. The free limb of the elbow union 35 is directed downwardly and connected to a depending brass tube 38 which extends through aligned holes in the holding-down flange 19 and in the bottom 18 of the tank, the tube 38 projecting into the tubular column 13 communicating with the space 14 between the two traps in the basin. A circular packing 39 of rubber extends around the vertical tube 38 between the bottom of the tank and the top of the basin to provide a fluid-tight and air-tight seal. An elongated opening 40 is formed in the underside of the transverse tube 33 so that during the discharge of water from the cistern during a flushing operation, air will be extracted from the space 14 between the two traps to provide a siphonic discharge action in the basin.

The arrangement thus provides a water-closet basin and cistern unit in which the siphon body is cast in one piece with the downcomer leg 16 having the integral tubular extension or continuation 17 which protrudes from the bottom of the cistern and is adapted to conduct flushing water to the basin. The supporting flange 19 which is formed integrally with the extension 17 can readily be bolted to the bottom of the cistern to secure the siphon unit in position and the bulbous part 31 of the siphon down leg is adapted to receive by a simple connection, the transverse tube 33 of the aspirator unit for extracting air from the basin discharge system. Moreover, the assembly of the cistern on the pedestal basin can be carried out in a simple operation by passing the lower protruding portion of the tubular extension 17, fitted with the lower rubber sealing ring or element 29, through the opening provided therefor in the rear part of the basin and, at the same time, manipulating the upright connecting pipe 38 of the aspirator unit into the associated tubular column 13 in the basin. Upon tightening of the wing-nuts 27 on the holding-down bolts 20, the whole can readily be secured together. The use of vitreous china and the casting in one piece of the siphon body and its associated parts, provides economy in manutfacture and avoids expensive machining and fitting operations. Moreover, the materials employed are relatively free from corrosion thereby prolonging the life of the fitment.

It will be understood that the transverse tube 33 of the aspirator unit could, if desired, be provided at its rear end, instead of its front end, with a union for the reception of a conduit leading downwardly through the bottom of the cistern and having at its lower end a forwardly extending part connected to the rear of the basin, to provide communication between the transverse tube and the space between the traps. In the illustrated embodiment, the

4; downcomer leg has a bore formed so as to converge towards and diverge from the bulbous part 31. If desired, however, the bore may be of uniform diameter above and below the bulbous part.

I claim:

1. Sanitary apparatus comprising a cistern, a bowl, means for conveying water to said bowl, a trap system coupled to said bowl and being provided with an air space, a one-piece ceramic water supply means seated in said cistern, said water supply means extending outwardly of the cistern and being coupled to the first said means, and aspiration means extending through the first said means externally of said water supply means and being coupled to said air space, said water supply and aspiration means being connected externally of the first said means and being operatively associated to aspirate air from said space, said water supply means constituting substantially the sole support for said aspiration means.

2. Sanitary apparatus comprising a cistern, a basin, said basin including a bowl and a trap system coupled to said bowl, said trap system having an air space therein, said basin further including means defining a water inlet chamber coupled to said bowl, the chamber being positioned above said space, and water supply and aspirator means extending separately and in spaced relation from said cistern to said chamber and space respectively, said aspirator means extending through said chamber to said space, said water supply and aspirator means being operatively coupled in said cistern to effect an evacuation of air from said space, said water supply means being detachably supported in said cistern and constituting substantially the sole support for said aspirator means which is suspended by said water supply means in a position to extend through said chamber.

3. Sanitary apparatus comprising a cistern, a basin including a water inlet system and a trap system defining an air space, and water supply and aspiration means extending separately from said cistern to said water inlet system and said air space respectively, said means being operatively associated in said cistern to effect aspiration of said air space, said water supply means and said aspirator means being detachably supported in said cistern and said water supply means constituting substantially the sole support for said aspirator means which is suspended thereby in a position to extend to said air space.

4. Apparatus for use with a water-closet basin and cistern unit, comprising a one-piece hollow downcomer having substantially diametrally opposed openings and including a bulbous portion adjacent said openings, a supporting flange on said downcomer adjacent said bulbous portion and an elbow shaped hollow member including a section extending through said openings and provided with an aperture within the one-piece member for purposes of aspiration and a section coupled to the first said section and extending substantially parallel to said onepiece member and through said flange, the latter said section and said downcomer being provided with discharge openings directed in parallel directions whereby said downcomer and hollow member are adapted for being inserted through parallel openings in said basin.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said onepiece member has a bore tapering in convergent manner towards said bulbous portion.

6. Sanitary apparatus comprising a cistern; a basin including a trap system defining an air space, a water inlet system above said air space, and a bowl coupled between said inlet and trap systems, said bowl further including a conduit extending through said inlet system and opening into said air space, said basin being provided with spaced openings for said inlet system and conduit respectively; said cistern being provided with spaced openings superposed with respect to the first said spaced openings; a onepiece hollow member in said cistern and extending via selected of said spaced openings into said inlet system,

and an elbow shaped member extending substantially diametrally through said one-piece member in said cistern and being supported solely by said one-piece member, said elbow shaped member extending substantially parallel to said hollow member and via selected of said spaced openings into said conduit and thus being coupled to said air space; said elbow shaped member being provided with an aperture within said one-piece member whereby to effect aspiration of said space.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, comprising a flange on said hollow member to seat the latter in said cistern.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said flange defines an opening through which said elbow shaped member extends.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, comprising bolts extending through said flange and cistern and fastening the same to said basin.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, comprising a sealing device encircling said one-piece member and extending into the corresponding openings in said basin and cistern, and an enlarged annular portion on said sealing device and compressed between said cistern and basin.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elbow shaped member includes a section extending diametrally through said hollow member, a cap on said section, an elbow on said section and cooperating with said cap to lock said section to said hollow member, and an extension connected to said elbow and extending into said conduit.

12. In combination with a basin including serially disposed traps with a space therebetween, said basin further including a bowl connected to one of said traps and defining a water inlet chamber for supplying water to said bowl, the chamber being positioned at least in part above said space, said basin being provided with an aperture which opens into said water inlet chamber and including a duct spaced from said aperture, said duct extending through said chamber and opening into said space; a cistern having openings superposed with respect to said aperture and conduit, a one-piece downcomer member in said cistern extending through one of the openings in the cistern and through said aperture into said water inlet chamber, a friction seal supporting said downcomer member in the said one opening in said cistern, and an aspirator member in said cistern extending laterally into said downcomer member to be operated by water passing through the downcomer member, said aspirator member extending through the other opening in the cistern and into the conduit for aspirating air from said space, said downcomer constituting the sole support for said aspirator member.

13. Sanitary apparatus comprising a basin, a cistern operatively disposed with respect to said basin and adapted for supplying water to the same, said basin including serially disposed traps and defining a space connecting said traps, said basin including a bowl connected to one of said traps and further defining a chamber adapted for receiving water from said cistern and opening into said bowl, said chamber being positioned at least in part above said space, said cistern and basin defining spaced sets of aligned openings adapted for connecting the cistern with said chamber and said space respectively, the opening defined by said basin for connecting the cistern with said space extending through said chamber, a downcomer member in said cistern and extending through one set of openings into said chamber, said downcomer member being adapted for transferring water from said cistern to said chamber, and aspirator means in said cistern and extending laterally into and supported by said downcomer member, said aspirator means extending through the other set of openings in spaced relation to said cistern and basin and having an opening in said downcomer member whereby passage of water through the downcomer member aspirates air from said space.

14. In combination with a basin including serially disposed traps and defining a space therebetween, said basin further including a bowl connected to one of said traps and defining a water inlet chamber for supplying water to said bowl, said chamber being positioned at least in part above said space, said basin being provided with an aperture which opens into said water inlet chamber and a duct spaced from said aperture, said duct extending through said chamber and opening into said space; a cistern having openings superposed with respect to said aperture and conduit, a one-piece downcomer member in said cistern extending through one of the openings in the cistern and through said aperture into said water inlet chamber, and an aspirator member in said cistern extending into and supported by said downcomer member to be operated by water passing through the downcomer member, said downcomer member including, within said cistern, diametrally opposed openings and flaring into a bulbous shape adjacent the latter said openings, said aspirator member being constituted by an elbow-shaped member extending through said diametrally opposed openings and provided with an aspiration opening within said downcomer member, said aspirator member further extending through the other of said openings in the cistern in spaced relation to the latter and into the conduit for aspirating air from said space.

15. Sanitary apparatus comprising a basin, a cistern operatively disposed with respect to said basin and adapted for supplying water to the same, said basin including a system of Walls defining two serially disposed traps and a space between said traps, said walls constituting a bowl connected to one of said traps and further defining an inlet duct adapted for receiving water from said cistern and a flushing chamber connected to said inlet duct and opening into said bowl, said inlet duct and flushing chamber constituting a unit positioned at least in part above said space, said cistern and walls defining two sets of aligned openings adapted for connecting the cistern with said inlet duct and said space respectively, the opening defined by said walls for connecting the cistern with said space extending through said unit, a one-piece member in said cistern and extending through one set of openings into said inlet duct, said one-piece member being adapted for transferring water from said cistern to said inlet duct, and aspirator means in said cistern and extending into and supported by said one-piece member, said aspirator means being operatively coupled by the other set of openings to said space and having an opening in said one-piece member whereby passage of water through the one-piece member aspirates air from said space, said one-piece member and aspirator means constituting and being detachable from said cistern as a unit.

16. Sanitary apparatus comprising a cistern adapted for the supply of water, a system of walls constituting two serially disposed traps and defining a space between said traps, said walls further constituting a bowl connected to one of said traps and defining an inlet duct adapted for receiving water from said cistern and a flushing chamber connected to said inlet duct and opening into said bowl, said inlet duct and flushing chamber constituting a unit positioned at least in part above said space, said cistern and walls defining two sets of aligned openings adapted for connecting the cistern with said inlet duct and said space respectively, the opening defined by said walls for connecting the cistern with said space extending through said unit, a downcomer member in said cistern and extending through one set of openings into said inlet duct, said downcomer member being adapted for transferring water from said cistern to said inlet duct, and aspirator means in said cistern and extending into and supported solely by said downcomer member, said aspirator means being operatively coupled by the other set of openings to said space and having an opening in said downcomer memher whereby passage of water through the downcomer member aspirates air from said space, said downcomer member including diametrally disposed openings Within said cistern for accommodating and supporting said aspirator means and widening into a bulbous shape in the vicinity of the diametrally disposed openings, said aspirator means being constituted by an elbow-shaped member extending through the latter said openings and into said other set of openings, said elbow-shaped member being provided with a downwardly directed aspiration opening within said downcomer member.

17. Sanitary apparatus comprising a basin, a cistern operatively disposed with respect to said basin and adapted for supplying water to the same, said basin including a system of walls defining two serially disposed traps and a space between said traps, said walls constituting a bowl connected to one of said traps and further defining an inlet duct adapted for receiving water from said cistern and a flushing chamber connected to said inlet duct and opening into said bowl, said inlet duct and flushing chamber constituting a unit positioned at least in part above said space, said cistern and walls defining two sets of aligned openings adapted for connecting the cistern with said inlet duct and said space respectively, the opening defined by said walls for connecting the cistern with said space extending through said unit, a one-piece downcomer member in said cistern and extending through one set of openings into said inlet duct, said downcomer member being adapted for transferring Water from said cistern to said inlet duct, aspirator means in said cistern and extending into and supported solely by said downcomer member, said aspirator means being operatively coupled by the other set of openings to said space and having an opening in said downcomer member whereby passage of water through the downcomer member aspirates air from said space, said downcomer member including a flange defining an opening through which said aspirator means extends, and fastening means extending through one of the walls of said basin, said cistern and said flange to fasten the same together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 378,664 Demarest Feb. 28, 1888 516,128 Stifel Mar. 6, 1894 FOREIGN PATENTS 667,523 Great Britain Mar. 5, 1952 683,975 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1952 

